Defenceman Tomas Valecko has today been released with immediate effect as a direct result of the Hull Stingrays recent poor run of form - which has seen them lose eight consecutive games.
The Slovakian joined the club in the summer from EIHL rivals Edinburgh Capitals - having scored six goals and 18 assists in 48 games - as a replacement for the big shot and calming influence of the highly experienced Dmitri Rodin.
Unfortunately for the 27 year old, he failed to fill the considerable skates left by the Estonian despite a flurry of goals early in the season. Much like Joshua Mizerek - who was released during the first half of last season - Valecko was often caught out positionally when attempting to rush the puck high in the offensive zone leaving the Rays, and particularly Ben Bowns in goal, vulnerable to a swift counter-attack.
Had the club not gone eight games without a victory then it may have been that Valecko may have remained on the roster, however, the nature of the losing streak - which crucially includes four losses to Gardiner Conference sides - forced Sylvain Cloutier's hand.
The Stingrays player-coach explained the decision in an official press release:
"I felt it was time to make a change and shake things up. we have been close in most of the games but we need to start winning. I feel there is a weakness at the back and it is an area we need to strengthen. I would like to thank Tomas for his time with us and wish him nothing but the best for the future."
Optimistic speculation might immediately link the Stingrays with an NHL calibre player given the ongoing NHL lockout - which has seen the start of the 12/13 NHL season delayed due to disagreements between club owners and players over the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
So far the Nottingham Panthers, Sheffield Steelers and Coventry Blaze have pounced on NHL forwards Anthony Stewart, Tom Sesitito and Matt Beleksey respectively, however, it seems highly unlikely, not to mention highly risky, that Cloutier and McEwan will follow suit given the costly summer takeover and potential wages and insurance costs involved.
That's not to say the Rays won't indirectly benefit from the NHL lockout given the ripple effect that will naturally see NHLers displacing players from the AHL, ECHL and European leagues.
Though the Rays have released Valecko - a defenceman, and on-paper that is perhaps where they appear weakest, the stats show the club are also having a particularly torrid time offensively having scored just three goals in four games - despite the relative number of scoring options available on the top two lines.
The versatility of Ryan Hand - who can play both defence and forward - gives Cloutier the freedom to go out and sign the best player available regardless of position, and for many that should be a forward, however, Cloutier directly states in the press release that "there is a weakness at the back and it is an area we need to strengthen", suggesting it will be a like for like switch on defence.
Whether it is a defenceman or forward remains to be seen, however, with another fixture against Dundee next weekend and then three games against Fife in the following weeks, time is not necessarily a luxury the Rays can afford.
